The Grass Pack

Thanks, RFT, for the great review!

Riverfront Times Best of 2008 Winner
Best Folk Artist: The Grass Pack

Of all the terrors to chill the blood of a bluegrass band, being called “folk” ranks right up there with accordions and requests for “that O Brother, Where Art Thou? song.” And so the Grass Pack is only folk in the loosest though not emptiest sense of the word. Composed of wily veterans and energetic youths, and including five able singers, the combo is furthering the oral and aural traditions that bluegrass has always relied on. The sextet’s bluegrass is classic and hardcore, with tight and precise arrangements in the spirit of Jimmy Martin or Flatt and Scruggs, combining standard country workouts like “Sugarfoot Rag,” traditionals like “Red Wing” and soulful covers of more contemporary numbers like “No Expectations” (this last sung by fiddler Colleen Heine as if it were a Smoky Mountain blues from the pen of Dolly Parton rather than a decadent hunk of ore from the mine of Jagger and Richards). When the band bobs and weaves around a single microphone at a pub or festival, bluegrass and non-bluegrass folk alike know they’re hearing the real deal.
-Riverfront Times, September 25, 2008

We had such a great time playing at Grant’s Farm last night for their Bluegrass Concert Series. 593 really enthusiastic audience members and 1 really REALLY enthusiastic one (my mom), a perfect-weather evening, Gene Roberts as our emcee, crystal-clear sound, horses and stables as our backdrop… what could be better than all that?! We got to have dinner in the historic Busch family house, and they even gave us a sampling of some new Anheuser-Busch beers that haven’t been released yet. Thanks to all who came out last night, including lots of our St. Louis bluegrass-pickin’ comrades!
-Posted by Colleen

Just wanted to say what a great time I had playin’ some bluegrass at Grants Farm.  Such an awesome crowd of people to play for with an inviting location.  This was by far the most invigorating gig this year!  A big thank you to all who came out and joined in the fun.  A pic to remember the night by:

nate

Several members of the Pack just returned from a weekend in Nashville. We played for a really great party, and got lots of compliments. Which means a lot, especially when you are in Nashville, bluegrass capitol of the world. Mickey Muskopf and Matt Rich filled in for our guitar and bass spots, an they did a fantastic job. We did our fair share of partyin’ too — checked out a Honky Tonk bar on Broadway, then went to the Station Inn, where The Charlie Sizemore Band was playing on the 4th of July. Met up with some of my old buddies from Lawrence, KS who now live in Nashville, and played tunes until 3:30 in the morning in an RV in someone’s backyard (still not sure whose). Went for a late and wild night out on the town Saturday night after the gig. Downtown Nashville sure is a happenin’ place, and we partied it up. The details of that night are a little fuzzy, but we know Nate was looking rougher than ever in the morning! We adopted a new motto that night: “What happens in Nashville stays in Nashville…”

Can’t wait to go back!

posted by Colleen

Well I just returned yesterday from an awesome festival experience at Peaceful Bend Winery in Steelville.  Talk about a tight nit group of people sitting around listening to pickers such as David Greer, Wyatt Rice, and Mark Cosgrove while eating the best ribs ever put in your mouth    We had such a good time pickin around the campsite and opening for Greer and Rice.  Look for video of the night soon.

>posted by Nate